Butterfly World Loses Its Childhood Appeal For Teens

It's been more than seven years since either of us had been there, and the thought of going back to Butterfly World was cute at best.

Butterfly World embodies one's childhood experiences and sensibilities. Wasn't it meant to appeal to our younger ideas of what was fascinating?

But the sign outside Butterfly World in Coconut Creek promised us a "world where dreams come true," a "paradise."

We asked how many people older than 10 attend the park each day. "It's a family-oriented attraction," the clerk said, "maybe 50-50."

This didn't bode well for teenagers too old to be enthralled by bugs and too young to be preoccupied with children.

We passed the protective barrier and entered the "Paradise Adventure Aviary," where the habitats are designed to evoke both a peaceful garden and a jungle, with narrow, meandering paths and small fountains between dense trees and small rock formations. Outdoor speakers played soothing piano music, creating the odd feeling of being inside a Hallmark card.

We were instantly assaulted by butterflies.

Moving across the gardens was like driving a truck down a back alley: the overhanging vegetation allowed comfortable walking only if one was still in grade school; the bugs that filled the air seemed to be more trouble than they were worth; the mist that shrouded the area covered all surfaces in grime. Mastering this place requires the feet of a ballerina or a midget.

"If they would all just sit and listen for awhile, we could see them," said one frustrated woman, peering into a tree, trying to spot the agile bugs.

We had to resist the instinct to swat the big bugs away from our faces. Large, threatening signs posted throughout the park warned that we were never to touch the butterflies; the notices suggested dire punishments.

FOR THE RECORD - CORRECTION PUBLISHED TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2005.An article on the Next Generation Page in Community News sections on Dec. 7 and Dec. 9 incorrectly reported prices for park merchandise and a park activity at Butterfly World in Coconut Creek. The Official Guidebook to Butterfly World costs $2; a commemorative golf ball is $2.95; feeding the birds costs $1. The article also incorrectly described surfaces in the park's gardens' area, which are damp because of cooling water sprays.

We fed the shiny Koi fish under one bridge, and a young boy approached. We asked him if he liked Butterfly World. "When you get under the water, that's my favorite," he said, referring to a misty underpass.

We passed through enthusiastically, but emerged only damp.

To tell the truth, butterflies aren't the most exciting insects to watch. They come in an variety of bright colors, but they don't do much more than flutter gracefully from leaf to leaf.

We soon discovered that Butterfly World had more than just bugs, however: it also has birds. The lorikeets provided a sense of danger that was missing in the bug habitat -- signs warn that they attempt to eat any facial blemishes, mistaking them for food. The hummingbirds darted about like madmen, wings pounding at 500 beats a minute.

No trip to this insectophile's wonderland would be complete without a stop in the large and well-stocked gift shop, filled to the ceiling with glass bug sculptures and butterfly T-shirts. It was here one could see the epitome of consumerism.

This feeling, though, is present from the beginning and recurs throughout the park. The Official Guidebook to Butterfly World: $10. Feed the birds: $5. A golf ball with the Butterfly World logo on it: $10. Experiencing Butterfly World as a teenager: Priceless. It felt like a MasterCard commercial.

As cynical teenagers, without the curiosity of a child and without the wisdom and purse of adults, it is difficult to appreciate Butterfly World. Maybe we simply can't sit back and smell the roses.

IF YOU GO

Butterfly World is inside Tradewinds Park at 3600 W. Sample Road in Coconut Creek. It is open daily. For more information and to print a discount coupon, visit www.butterflyworld.com or call 954-977-4400.